Improving NHS Services Surveys: Wheelchairs, Community Equipment and Technology Enabled Care Services

We always want to improve our services and make sure they work well for everyone who uses them.

We want to know what works well, and how can we improve what doesn’t work so well for people that have experience of the NHS Kent and Medway wheelchair service, the NHS and council community equipment services and the technology enabled care services.

Our aim is for the NHS, councils and other partners to work better together which could benefit and improve each of these services to meet people’s needs, increase independence and improve people’s quality of life.

We need to understand people’s experience of these services and hear the views and knowledge from people who have access to these services. So we invite people who have used any of these services directly or as a family member, carer, charity, advocate or as a professional stakeholder - to take part in the online surveys below.

The surveys are short - so won’t take long, and if you use one or more of the services we would appreciate it if you complete a survey for each of the services you have used.

The surveys start on 20th July and will close on 15th September 2021.

Wheelchair Service Survey: www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/wheelchair

Community Equipment Service Survey: www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/communityequip

Technology Enabled Care Service Survey: www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/techcare

If you would prefer a printed copy or an easy read version or would like to give feedback over the telephone, please Email your request to: kmccg.engage@nhs.net

Please feel free to share this message and our website with others who you think may be interested in taking part as we would like to hear from as many people as possible across Kent and Medway.

Thank you for your continued support and feedback.

Ray Kemsley

On behalf of NHS Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group

Emergency Road Closure - Mill Lane, Hartlip

It will be necessary to close Mill Lane, Hartlip from Wednesday 21st July 2021 for up to 8 days.

The road will be closed outside 2 Mill Cottages.

The alternative route is via Hartlip Hill, Lower Hartlip Road and Munns Lane.

This is to enable water mains repairs to be carried out by Southern Water.

KCC 24hr Contact Centre: 03000 418181

For details of roadworks see: www.kenttraffic.info

Kent County Council - Highways, Transportation & Waste

Swale Borough Council - Leader Statement on End of Restrictions

Councillor Roger Truelove.

Following the ending of most restrictions brought in to combat the spread of Covid-19, the leader of Swale Borough Council is calling for people to use their common sense to keep each other safe.

 

Cllr Roger Truelove, leader of the council, said:

 

“We have to recognise that the Government has removed practically all of the regulations introduced to stop the spread of the Covid virus.

 

“However, we are acutely conscious that infection rates are rising rapidly, so that our latest figures for Swale were reported at 285 per 100,000 yesterday, and continue to rise.

 

“In many settings we need people to use their common sense and maintain the need for social distancing, wearing masks and following good hygiene practices.

 

“Whilst there are no enforcement powers, we know that many businesses will continue to request people take sensible precautions and I urge people to follow them as they are in place to protect their staff and customers. There is also a vital need to continue with good practice in health settings.

 

“We all need to stay cautious, not just for ourselves but for each other, and remember whether immunised or not, many people remain extremely vulnerable to this virus.”

Swale Borough Council

Covid-19: Moving to STEP 4 from 19th July

The video might not be visible in our Email version of this post.

If not, you can watch it here: https://bit.ly/2VYztdd

STEP 4

From today, England will move to the next step of the roadmap.

Everyone should be cautious while managing the risks as cases of Covid-19 remain high.

Find out more at: www.gov.uk/coronavirus

#Coronavirus | #Covid_19 

Upchurch Matters

Update from NHS Kent and Medway CCG: Wearing a Face Covering

While the Government is lifting restrictions on Monday (19th July), it has asked that everyone continues to act carefully and remain cautious in their approach to everyday life.

That is especially true for healthcare services; where some patients don’t have as much immunity to the virus as others.

NHS Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group’s Chief Nurse Paula Wilkins said:

“The virus has not gone away and we must do all we can to protect patients and staff from it and keep it under control.’’

All healthcare settings in Kent and Medway will keep the current infection prevention and control (IP&C) measures that are already in place.

That means:

• Masks will still need to be worn by patients, visitors, staff and anyone else entering a healthcare setting (unless you are medically exempt) - this includes hospitals, clinics and GP practices.

• Masks will also continue to be worn by healthcare staff entering a patient’s home.

• Social distancing will remain - both in waiting rooms and in wards beyond 19th July.

• A flow of fresh air will be encouraged in all healthcare buildings.

• Some restrictions managing visitor numbers may still apply - this may vary depending on space available and other service specific issues, hospitals will provide clear information on any visiting restrictions.

• You may need to have your temperature taken when you go into a healthcare setting.

Each healthcare provider may have further local approaches to keep people safe, so please check on site for these.

We understand this may be frustrating for some people who do not wish to wear a mask or socially distance, but this is for the benefit of everyone; please don’t abuse NHS staff who are here to protect and care for patients and their loved ones.

Paula said: 

“Please remember that having both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine offers the best protection against the virus; it is, however, still possible to contract Coronavirus, so anything we can do to protect each other and ourselves remains vitally important. We know that having two doses also decreases household transmission by up to half.’’

• Please continue to regularly wash your hands or use hand sanitiser, avoid touching your face if you can and remember not to get too close to people - hands, face, space.

• Continue to regularly self-test; free kits are available from www.nhs.uk

• Make sure you self-isolate if you show symptoms, test positive or are contacted by Test and Trace. From 16th August, this changes for people who are fully vaccinated - visit Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance and support - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

If anyone hasn’t yet been vaccinated, it is really quick and easy to grab a jab.

1. Use the national booking service at Book or manage your coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination - NHS (www.nhs.uk) or phone 119.

2. If you don’t want to book, there are dozens of walk-in centres across Kent and Medway offering vaccinations at a time and place to suit you. Find out more here: Vaccination walk-in clinics: Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group (kentandmedwayccg.nhs.uk)

Find out more about the NHS position on face coverings here

NHS Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group

Vehicle Damaged - Newington

Hartlip, Newington & Upchurch Ward

Crime Number: 46/123779/21

On Saturday the 10th of July around 22:02, somebody damaged a Volkswagen Beetle Cabriolet parked in the road by moving it along the road.

The police are continuing their enquiries.

If you have any information that could help investigators please contact Kent Police on telephone number 101 and quote the relevant crime number above.

For more information on crime prevention visit: www.kent.police.uk

Kent Community Messaging